Machine for opening and cleaning cotton, wool. and other fibers



M 17, 1923. nwmfis w. YOULTEN AND CLEANING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBERS Filed March 2, 1921 MACHINE FOR OPENING 3 hoets-Sheet 1 July 17, 1923.

w. YOULTEN MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBERS Filed March 2 1921 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 1923.

BAfiZASS w. YOULTEN MACHINE FOR OPENING AND CLEANING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBERS Filed March 2. 1921 S Sfieots-Sheet 5 Patented July 17, 11923 nn rn alFES WILLIAM YOULTEN, OF HOVE, ENG-LAND, ASSIGNOB TO HARRY SEYMOUR FOSTER, OF WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, AND LOUIS NAPOLEON SCHOENFELD, OF HOVE, ENG- LAND.

MACHINE FOB OPENING AND CLEANING COTTON, 'SIVOOL. AND OTHER FIBERS.

Application filed March 2, 1921. Serial No. 449,206.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, TILLTAM Your/ran, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland. residing at Hove, in the county o't Sussex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Machines for Opening and Cleaning Cotton, 001, and Other Fibers; and I do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for cleaning cotton, wool and other fibers.

With machines of the class in question it is usual to provide valves or their equivalents for controlling; the admission of the base or fiber to be treated and the discharge of the treated product and it is a matter of great importance to control these valves so that the material to be treated is admitted to the machine at proper intervals of time, and the product discharged at proper corresponding periods.

The object of my present invention is to provide apparatus automatically controlled preferably from the cleaning machine itself, which apparatus causes the valves to be properly opened at appropriate intervals of time and in proper sequence according to the nature and condition of the base material under treatment, the apparatus being moreover so constructed that the timing or period of treatment can be easily varied and regulated. with great accuracy.

The automatic controlling apparatus forming the subject of my invention, com-- prises broadly a self contained. change speed gear or mechanism from which the base and and (or) product valves of the machine are controlled through suitable transmission members, convenient means for bringing; any gear wheel or its equivalent in the change speed mechanism into gear with a shaft or its equivalent in the controlling apparatus driven from a main shaft of the principal machine or from some other suitable source of power, preferably with means such a stepped or coned pulley on the shaft of the controlling apparatus by means of which such shaft is driven from the main or other shaft as aforesaid, in order, where desired to give a greater range or scope for timing and adjusting purposes.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I will now describe one particular automatic apparatus adapted for use with a machine for cleaning cotton, wool or other fiber, for instance of the type comprising a chamber in which the material to be treated is beaten and blown by means of blades or their equivalent carried by a rotating shaft.

I provide a suitable dust tight casing, which I term the magazine of gears? Within this magazine upon a suitable shaft or spindle is mounted a series of various sized toothed wheels, the number and dimensions of which are selected according to the various speeds required.

I also provide a driving shaft for the apparatus, which is driven by means of a stepped pulley or coned pulley by a belt or other transmission mechanism from the main shaft or other appropriate source of power.

Suitably mounted within the casing; is a pivotally mounted bracket or lever. This bracket carries an idle pinion, which is adapted, when the lever is slidden and rocked into various positions to mesh with any of the gear wheels of the ma grazine and the idle wheel is in permanent gear with a pinion which is driven by the shaft of the apparatus, the construction beinp; such that the lever can be rocked over and set into such a position that the rotary motion can be transmitted from the shaft through the sliding)? pinion and the idle pinion to any required wheel in the magazine.

Suitable'means, such as a pin or stud is provided for locking the lever in the re quired position. i

The shaft carrying the gear wheels is formed with. or has connected thereto a worm, suitably housed in the casing, appropriate thrust hearings or the like being used.

This worm gears with a worm wheel hava given number of teeth, for instance 60, representing seconds to the minute.

On each side of the worm wheel is an extended boss and upon each of these bosses is mounted. a wheel or disc. i I

These wheels or discs I term the index wheels and each of them is of the same pitch diameter as the worm wheel. They are fixed to the bosses so that they rotate at the same speed as the worm wheel, and from one unit.

' The index wheels gear or register with a pinion mounted upon a separate shaft or axle, and a suitable cranked or equivalent mechanism is fitted at each end of the shaft to produce a reciprocating motion in rods connected therewith.

The two index wheels and corresponding pinions are constructed and arranged to Work as a stop and start motion at various positions of their circumference.

In the preferred construction each index wheel isof the same pitch diameter as the worm wheel and may be taken to represent 60 seconds to the minute for timing purposes. To obtain various periods of motion and rest or timing. teeth are cut away in two parts of the circumference, and other portions of the circumferences have the ad dendum portion of the teeth cut away to the pitch line and made convex in form, in the case of the index wheels.

As regards the pinion it also has teeth cut away in parts of its circumference, whilst the remaining parts of the circumference have the addendum portion of the teeth cut away to the pitch line diametrically opposite to each other with a portion of their circumference formed concave.

With this construction, when the apparatus is rotating, the portion of the index wheel registers with the concave portion of. the pinion, and causes the pinion to rest or remain idle until the toothed portion of the wheel comes in contact with the toothed por tion of the pinion, when it moves it through one half of a revolution this occurring each time the teeth mesh with each other. i

The valves are opened through suitable connecting rods co -operating in the preferredjconstruction with toothed. quadrant levers and pinions. the motion being transmitted in any suitable manner to the valves themselves.

In order that the invention may be readily understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which I Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the general arrangement of the machine for treating cotton, wool or other fibers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the automatic gearing for effecting the periodic opening and closing of the base and product valves the section being taken through the hne 22 Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional, plan of Fig. 2 taken on the line 3-3 of that figure.

Fig. 4 is a transverse view partlv in section, the sectional upper portion of the figures being taken at line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view to an enlarged scale shQ ing one of the toothed index wheels and the pinion wheel associated therewith.

The machine for treating cotton, wool and other fibers is indicated diagrammatically in dotted lines at a, the feed hopper being inclicated at b, the treating chamber at 6 and 6 indicates the path of rotation of the beater. The automatic controlling apparatus for the base and product valves is enclosed in an air tight casing or magazine 0 located in the neighborhood of the top of the machine. \Vithin this casing, is a shaft (Z rotatably mounted in bearings 0*. Que end of the shaft has keyed thereto a stepped pulley e driven by a belt from the main shaft of the machine or from some other appropriate source of power. Extending parallel with the shaft (Z and supported in bearings is a shaft 8 to which are keyed a series of various sized externally toothed wheels 7 f f f. The opposite end of the shafts carries a worm g meshing with a worm wheel it carried by a shaft or spindle 2' supported in bearings c in the sides of the casing. The worm wheel extends within an oilbath 0 and is provided at opposite sides with a laterally extending boss or sleeve 72. k and on each of these bosses is mounted a disc or wheel is engaging a disc or wheel Z mounted on a spindle or shaft m supported in bearings 0 in the sides of the casing. The wheels or discs Z Z are suitably keyed to their shaft m, so as to rotate therewith.

Mounted on the shaft (Z is a pivotal bracket or lever oone end of which carries an idle pinion p, adapted, when said lever 0 is slidden axially along the shaft (Z to mesh with either of the toothed wheels f-f. The idle pinion p is in constant mesh with a toothed pinion 72 located between the forked sides of the bracket 0 and slidably keyed to the shaft (Z, so as to rotate therewith. The bracket or lever 0 carries an extending arm 0 provided with a perforation 0 and this perforated end of the arm 0 is adapted to engage steps 9 (Fig. by means of which said arm is positioned, the arm being secured in the desired position by a pin 9 passing through the perforation in the arm and engaging corresponding recesses in the step. The steps are arranged in such a manner as to maintain the idle pinion p in engagement with one of the toothed wheels 7 f f" according to the position of the bracket 0. the latter being rocked and its arm engaged with the corresponding step 9.

The casing c is provided with a preferablv hinged door 0 located adjacent the slidable bracket 0. so as to permit adjustment there of. when desired.

In order to effect the periodic opening and closing of the base and product valves. the shaft or spindle m to which the toothed pinions Z are keyed, is provided at its outer ends with discs, or wheels 1" r, the disc 1-" having a crank pin r connected to one -end of a rod 1, the opposite bifurcated end of which embraces one end of a longitudinally slot-ted lever 2 and is adjustably connected thereto by a pin or bolt. The lever 2 is mounted on a pivot 3 and at its opposite free end has formed therewith or mounted thereon a toothed'quadrant 4L engaging a toothed pinion 5 mounted on a shaft 6. The shaft 6 carries a belt pulley which is connected to asecond pulley 7 by a belt 8. The pulley 7 is mounted on ashaft 9 carrying a second pulley which drives by means of a belt 10 and ratchet and pawl mechanism (not shown) ashaft :11 on which is mounted a wheel 12 provided with a series of blades or radial arms 13 projecting into the feed hopper 7) and arranged to be periodically rotated in one direction, soastoacontrol the passage of the base undertreatment to the cleaning machine a. The ratchet and pawl mechanism is so arranged as to cause the shaft 11 to partially rotatein one direction each time the rod 1 is reciprocated.

The otherdisc'r also carries a crank pin 1 which is pivotally connected to oneend of a rod 14:, the opposite forked end of which isconnected to a second slotted lever 15 mounted on a pivot 16, the toothed quadrant 17 on the opposite end of this lever engaging a toothed pinion 18 on a shaft 19'connected to and adapted to operate by any suitable means the product valve shown in the open position by dotted lines at 25 toward the bottom of the machine the path of closing of the valve 25 being indicated by broken lines at 26.

The product valve is operated through a trip motion or by means of a ratchet and pawl, so that as the product valve is closing the base valve gear will come into operation to open the valve, by this means preventing .loss of time between the closing of the procluct valve and the admission of a new charge of base.

The shaft 19 also carries a pulley or drum 20 to which is secured one end of a chain, band or belt 21. the opposite end of which passes over a roller 22 carried by a bracket 23. the opposite end of the chain or belt 21 carrying a series of balance weights 24.

It will thus be seen that the rotation of the shaft m causes both the base and prouct valves to be independently and alternately opened and closed. In order to effect the periodic opening and. closing of the valves, the index wheels and the wheels or discs Z are each provided with teeth extending over portions of their peripheries,

as shown in Fig. 5. I

The index wheels k have portions 42 and '0 of their peripheries formed with teeth 11 whilst the remaining portions of said wheels are cutaway to a point representing the pitch circle of said wheels, as shown at '0 and t in Fig. 5. The wheels or discs Z are each formed with teeth Z extending over two sectors, the portions of the periphcry of each wheel between the ends of these sectors being cut away to form concave re cesses Z Z the bottom of which corresponds with the pitch circle of said wheels whilst the radius of the concave recesses correspond to the radius of the pitch circle of the wheels 70.

As previously described the wheels 7c are each rigidly mounted on laterally extending bosses h on opposite sides of the worm wheel it, so that each of the wheels is rotate therewith. It will thus be seen that on rotation of the wheels 70, the shaft on: will be periodically or intermittently rotated at appropriate times but always in the same direction. Assuming the wheels k and Z, shown in Fig. 5 to be operatively connected to the base valve it will be seen that with the wheel is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow. the valve controlling the admission of the material to the machine is just about to open, the teeth '1; of the wheel 76 on the sector 12 about to engage the teeth Z on the wheel Z, thereby rotating the shaft m causing the operating rod 1 to be reciprocated to operate the valve to the fully open position, the cut away portion represented by the sector 0 of the wheel is now registers with the concave recess Z of the wheel Z so that the rotation of the shaft on is stopped the base valve remaining fully open during the rotation of the wheel 70 through a distance represented by the sector 0. On the forward end of the toothed sector o of the wheel is reaching the pe riphery of the wheel Z, the latter is again brought into mesh and the shaft m will again be rotated until the valve is closed, and during the further rotation of the wheel 70 through the sector t the valve will remain closed. this period corresponding to the time during which the material is under treatment in the machine a. The indeX wheel is controlling the product valve operates in a similar manner, the gearing being arranged. to operate each valve independently at the appropriate times.

It will thus be seen that the opening and closing of the base and product valves is entirely automatic whilst the time of opening and closing of the valves and the time during which the material is under treatment in the machine, may be varied as desired according to the speed of rotation of the shaft 8, the driving shaft d being driven at a constant speed, whilst the relative speed of the shaft 8 may be varied by the rocking and axial adjustment of the bracket 0 as previously described.

The pinions Z'Z'instead of being connected together may, if desired, be each rigidly c0n nected to or formed in one with the discs or wheels 1" 7 respectively, so that the rotationof: the discs may be timed to open and close the valves for the base and procluct at appropriate times, theteeth on the pinions or on the. indexvwheels being re-- spectively displaced to effect this independent operation.

It will be understood that the particular construction just described is given merely by Way otexample, and that the details of construction may be modified to suit the type of machine to which the invention is applied, Without departing from the principle of the invention.

What I claim asmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is "1. Arma chine for opening and cleaning cotton, Wool and other fibers, comprising in combination, a treating chamber, a beater shaft rotatable in said chamber a feed hopper through which the material is fed into said chamber, a discharge valve through which the treated product is delivered, a' shaft carrying a worm and driven through variable transmission gearing from a source of power, a worm wheel in constant mesh with said Worm, discs mounted adjustably on said Worm wheeleach having a segmental rack, a disc also having a segmental rack tently rotated thereby, and means associated with said second mentioned discs connected by links and levers to each of said valves, substantially as described.

2. A machine for opening and cleaning cotton, wool and other fibers comprising in combination a treating chamber, a beater shaft rotatable in said chamber, a feed hopper through which the'material is fed into said chamber, a discharge valve through which the treated product is delivered, a shaft carryinga Worm and driven through variable transmission gearing from a source of power, a wormfwheel in constant mesh with said worm, a pair of discs mounted adjustably onsaid worm wheel each having teeth over a portion of its periphery a pair of discs of s'mallerdiameter mounted adjacent said first mentioned discs and each having teeth over portion of their periphery adapted to mesh with the teeth of the corresponding disc on the worm Wheel a crank arm associated With each of said smaller discs, links connected at one end to said crank and at the other end to one end of a fulcrumed lever carrying a toothed sector, and pinion wheels engaging said toothed sectorsadapted to positively operate the base and product valves respectively during their opening and closin movement.

' WILLIAM Y ULTEN. 

